Ayo (born as Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin on 14 September 1980 in Frechen near Cologne, Germany) is a Nigerian-German singer-songwriter.

 

Shortly after giving birth to her son Nile, she recorded her first album Joyful in January 2006 in the New York Sony studio. Her debut album Joyful reached Double-Platinum status in France, Platinum in Germany and Poland, Gold status in Switzerland and Italy and Greece. The album was released in the United States on 20 November 2007 by Interscope Records.

On her American tour she performed with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. In January 2008 she appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, and on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, performing her song Down on My Knees. 

On 10 March 2008 Ayo started recording on her second album Gravity At Last . She co-produced the album with Jay Newland. The album reached number 1 on the French album charts in October 2008.

The president of UNICEF France, Jacques Hintzy, announced on 4 February 2009 that the singer was named patron of UNICEF to promote the right to education for all children in the world.

The French production company MK2 produced 2009 the film Ayo, a 90 minute documentary about the singer and her life. The film was directed by Raphaël Duroy.

Ayo's third album named after her daughter Billie-Eve will be released in March 2011. The first single off the new album is called “I’m Gonna Dance”.

website: www.ayomusic.com